Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc was on his way to his first podium of the 2023 Formula One season in the opening Grand Prix when his SF-23 lost power, stopping on the home straight. Old fears therefore resurfaced in the minds of Ferrari supporters, fearful that the reliability problems suffered in 2022 have not yet been fully resolved. However, it has been confirmed that the failure of Ferrari number 16 was in no way linked to the internal combustion engine or to the failures of last season.
Indeed, one of the critical elements of the F1-75 PU was the turbocharger unit and the connecting shaft, but the problem experienced in Bahrain did not involve the combustion engine.
An electrical problem was the reason for the retirement
The analyzes carried out in Maranello confirmed the suspicions of the first few days. Charles Leclerc Bahrain’s retirement was caused by a problem with the electrical part, which led to a technical failure of the battery control unit. Precisely the control unit, together with the battery, had been replaced for precautionary reasons just before the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix. The regulation allows the use of two control units and as many battery packs during a Formula One season which is why, unless Ferrari manages to fix the replaced control unit before the next weekend, Charles Leclerc will have to serve a penalty already in Saudi Arabia.
On the other hand, no details have been leaked on whether the electrical problem that affected the control unit has also compromised the battery. All decisions will be made before the Jeddah round, where it will be known if and how much the Monegasque will be relegated on the starting grid. If only the control unit were to be replaced, the penalty positions would be ten, while if a third battery were to be fitted on his SF-23 as well, the penalty would rise to twenty.
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The straight-line speed of the SF-23 will be an important weapon for the Maranello team on the fast Saudi Arabian track, which is why it would be even more important for the Monegasque to start from the front row and try to put pressure on the two Red Bull cars of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
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